Firefighters are tasked with extinguishing the country’s most aggressive blazes.

By Mary O’KEEFE

The recent fires in Southern California have devastated neighborhoods and families. Hundreds of homes have been lost and many more damaged. Thousands of firefighters from across the country have fought these blazes for days, facing not just fire but high winds and low humidity, oftentimes putting their own lives at risk.

On Dec. 14, the fire took the life of a Cal Fire engineer while he was battling the Thomas Fire that began in Ventura County and has since spread into Santa Barbara County.

Cory Iverson, 32, had been with the California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) since 2009. He and his wife Ashley have a daughter, Evie, who is 2 years old. Ashley is expecting their second daughter in the spring.

On Dec. 14, Cory was fighting the fire just northeast of Fillmore. He died of burns and smoke inhalation; nothing more has been released until a “serious accident review team gathers all the facts,” according to Lynne Tolmachoff, spokeswoman for Cal Fire.

“It has been a tough week,” Tolmachoff added.

The Iverson family is very close and has a strong support system of family, friends, fellow firefighters and their church. Tolmachoff said she has been amazed at Ashley’s strength through this difficult time.

Ashley joined the Cal Fire chief with the San Diego unit on Sunday to retrieve her husband’s body from Ventura County. She was in the caravan that traveled from Ventura to the San Diego area. As they drove the almost three-hour trip, firefighters from local departments stood guard on overpasses in honor of their fallen comrade as the caravan passed by.

“Before she [joined the caravan] she went to base camp for a briefing and spoke to those who were there. She thanked all of them for taking care of Cory,” Tolmachoff said. She added the family has “great faith” to lean on.

The Cal Fire members have been and will continue to be with the family throughout this time.

“Our support remains there from the department and from others who Cory has worked with,” she said. “We will stay there … we will stay the course.”

The Thomas Fire continues to burn and, as of Tuesday at 12:30 p.m., had consumed 271,000 acres and was 50% contained.

The fire, which is on its way to being the largest in the State of California, began on Dec. 4 and has destroyed over 700 homes. The expected containment date is Jan. 1 according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire is responsible for the fire protection of over 31 million acres of California’s privately owned wild-lands as well as providing emergency services to 36 out of the state’s 58 counties that contract with them.

They were on the Thomas Fire immediately because it began in an area of Santa Paula that is under state responsibility. They were also part of the unified command in the other recent fires, including the Creek Fire.

Cal Fire was also part of the unified command during the northern California wildfires in October. Tolmachoff said that abatement and being prepared for fire is important for everyone in the state, especially with the wind-driven events like those fires in northern and Southern California.

“The problem this year is the extreme wind. [Firefighters] can’t stay ahead of the fire,” she said.

She added one of the most important things people should do is to be ready to evacuate.

“When they get the [order] to evacuate they need to leave. It is the best thing for [residents] and the best thing for firefighters,” she said. “It is important to be prepared to evacuate and have a plan.”

  Charly Shelton, Mary Okeefe